Welcome to the MUD Club Page

Posted on July 21, 2020 by dwmack

Interested in  Scuba Diving? Then you’ve come to the right place!

Come join us every 3rd Tuesday (except December) for our Monthly MUD meeting.
Looking for a dive? Check out our Calendar to see what’s on the schedule.

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Tankful Tuesday

Posted on July 21, 2020 by dwmack

Tankful Tuesday Dive – June 23- Little Paw Paw Lake – Coloma, MI. 18:30 hrs (6:30 PM for others) – We met at the Public Access / boat launch.

To get there from I-94, Exit at 39 and head east on West Center Street, turn left onto North Church Street, thru downtown Coloma and follow “Paw Paw Lake Road” as it parallels Big PPL. Turn left onto Johnston Road (you’ll see the Handy Spot convenience store at the corner) and turn Left on Helen Street. That links up with Lake Drive and the public access parking. (that’s about 3 miles)

Looking to the right you will see the public access parking. If it had been crowded we were going to convoy to Forest Beach on Big PPL.

At the Public Access and boat launch. The sand beach area and the swim area off the beach was very clean and safe for kids. Drop off started at about 6 feet. Dark bottom when getting to deeper water ~25″ but a light makes the difference. Metal detecting not so good BUT grubbing was great! We pretty much had the public access all to ourselves this day with just a little bit of boat traffic. Nice warm day, gentle breeze and the few threatening clouds all passed us by.

Little Paw Paw Lake from the air – Boat Launch
The sandy spot, left center) is the Public Access. The lake is ~90 acres. The deepest point in the lake is 27 feet. Lake turnover time is ~.3 yrs. Boat launch and park at the end of “Helen” road. Heavy weeds in the summer out to 10 feet, bottom to the left of the launch is heavy muck and very dark. When Carp are breeding they sometime bump you if you are in the weeds and in their territory.
Karen, Barb, Kirk and Mac were on hand today. Karen finding the “official Dive” golf ball(s). Kurt & Barb provided shore support.
Like I said, Karen the grubber, did very well and some nice finds were recovered
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Tankful Tuesday

Posted on June 30, 2020 by dwmack

Today’s dive was in Lake Michigan off the North Pier, Tiscornia Park, St, Joseph, Mi.

This was the initial post of this dive: Tuesdays dive is slated to be on the North Pier off Tiscornia Beach “WEATHER PERMITTING” which mean zero to very minimal wave action. There is a $9 (weekdays) charge to park at Tiscornia Park. The alternate dive site will be (Big) Paw Paw Lake (Watervliet) at the Forest Beach park.

I will visit the North Pier Tuesday in the early afternoon to determine wave action and diving conditions. “IF” in my opinion there is wave heights that do not meet what I consider the safest for intermediate divers I will immediately post on the club site that we will be diving our alternate site “Forest Beach”.

IF the pier conditions are good, those interested in consolidating gear and sharing a ride to the park can gather at the Whirlpool parking lot on Upton Drive prior to 1830 hrs (6:30 PM). Look for a dive flag!

It’s a long walk from the parking lot to the mid-point on the pier so its suggested that you bring a dolly cart or wagon to haul your gear. For those not diving just coming down and providing shore support is always appreciated.

The following pictures tell all about the dive. You missed a good one 🙂

Social Distancing before during and after the dive..
Water level is high as seen here on the lake side midpoint of the North Pier.
Karen M somewhere along the pier wall – visibility anywhere from 5 to 10 feet.
Treasures found included severay nice dive masks and even this skateboard in good working order. Lots of fish, very very few gobies seen and very low levels of zebra mussle infestation. Big surprise on both these items.
My face to face greeter when surfacing at the end of the dive.
Sun just setting as we finished loading our wet gear and departing the park.
Had to get that final sunset shot from the bluffs in downtown St. Joseph, MI. on the way home.
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Tankful Tuesday

Posted on June 16, 2020 by dwmack

This weeks pickup TT day dive was at the DNR Launch on Lake Cora in Decatur, MI.

Tankful Tuesday went great! 7 arrived/ 6 went out to dive. Brian & Simon came out a little early and did a boat dive just off the launch ramp area.

A few divers went straight out and made it to a max of 57feet with visibility between 5 & 10 feet. Water temperature was 48F at depth and considerably warmer in the shallows of less than 10 feet. Mack stayed shallow metal detecting the Resort Beach next to the launch.

Lots of large fish were seen, some close and personnel when the vis went low and surprisingly no trash and no cans or bottles to be found. Everyone had a good time and all practiced that critical social distancing.

West Public Access – Lake Cora
Boat Launch circle at the DNR launch- Lake Cora
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Tankful Tuesday – 1st

Posted on June 9, 2020 by dwmack

This years weekly dives were switched from Thirsty Thursdays to Tankful Tuesdays and began June 9th. We are getting in a late start this year due to COID concerns.

With that said, this summers First Tankful Tuesday dive went well. And yes there was rain, but we figured we were getting wet anyway, what’s the difference? There were 4 of us out diving tonight Paw Paw Lake at Forest Beach Park located in Watervliet, Mi.

The Water temp was 55 degrees with an average visibility between 5 to 10 feet. And yes, treasures were found 😊

  • Forest Beach Park, Paw Paw Lake, Watervliet, MI
  • Looking from the pier toward the parking lot – Forest Beach Park
  • Todays Dive finds!

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Ecology Dive – Riverview Park, Niles, Michigan

Posted on November 15, 2018 by dwmack

September 22, 2018:

The 2018 Ecology Dive held at Riverview Park, Niles, Michigan  was a huge success.

It was sponsored by the Michigan U/W Divers (MUD) club and Wolfs Marine.

There were two divers come from Detroit and one from Grand Rapids that joined our Muddies in the event. There were 24 divers,  shore support and a bunch of spectators. The weather was beautiful but a little chilly in the morning until the sun warmed things up in the afternoon.

In fact, with the support and donations the club had this year “every participant” and all shore support individuals was awarded a prize.

Jim Scholz, from Dowagiac, was the grand prize winner for having found the “Most Trash” with 73 countable items, Mary Beth Thar (from Nile’s Mi & MUD Club President) won the “Largest/ Biggest” by hauling in a large rusted sign AND a big tractor trailer tire rim, Skyler Daisy from Hartford, won “Heaviest” by lugging in a very heavy and rusted grate, and last but not least was Darrin Jillison (Buchanan) won the “Most Unusual” with a small cross pendant surrounded by about a hundred or so diamond chips. Here are a couple of pictures of trash removed by the divers.



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August 11: This Years MUD Club Picnic

Posted on August 11, 2018 by dwmack

Well, the Michigan Underwater Divers (MUD) club could not have asked for better picnic weather than we had today! We hope that those who could not make it this year will be at the one next year. But with that said, be aware that we cannot guarantee the great weather we had today. No one kayaked today, but a few hardy souls took to the river and some bottle treasures were found, in spite of the very low visibility, river banks snag hazards, and fast currents.

Steaks & brats on this brill. Chicken and potatoes on the other.

Getting ready to begin the feast.

The pipe is almost covered, the current is strong, but notice Jim’s flag in their honey hole on the opposite side of the river.

Big John getting ready to challenge the river.

Jason getting ready to give his new dry suit a try.

New signage since this year’s flooding.

While some are diving or walking the river side paths, some are just cooling it in the shade.

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Wooden Ships and Iron Men

Posted on May 28, 2018 by dwmack

Copyright 2018 by Don McAlhany

Photo taken by Don McAlhany of the Friends Goodwill (South Haven, MI)

This Memorial Day weekend it was a hazy day off shore and this picture I took of the Friends Good Will reminds me of the days gone by and of wooden ships and iron men.

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Mermaid MegaFest – South Haven, MI

Posted on May 26, 2018 by dwmack

Mermaids from around the area gathered today in South Haven, Michigan during this Memorial Weekend 2018 to participate in the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS official attempt for Largest Gathering of People Dressed as Mermaids. And it was not just for mermaids – mermen and merkids, sailors along with nefarious pirates, will be everywhere! The festival is also dedicated to promoting efforts to preserving our natural freshwater resources and the festival is dedicated to promoting efforts to “Protect our Water Wonderland”! Herer are a few pictures of todays gatherings.

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Fresh Mud Being Updated

Posted on March 6, 2018 by dwmack

Just a note to mention that all our Fresh Mud Post were either lost or corrupted when we changed servers this year. Hopefully we can resolve this problem soon. Mack

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Happy New Year 2018

Posted on January 1, 2018 by dwmack

After celebrating the New Year under the ice of Round Lake in Dowagiac Michigan, the participating Muddies gathered around the hole to have our pictures taken to document the event.

Some say we should keep the masks on to protect the identities of the crazies. 🙂

This dive could not have taken place except for the support of those on the surface helping the divers get their gear on and off  and tending our safety lines.  We always give a big “Thank You” to everyone who assists in for setting up, tending lines, taking pictures and braving the cold, blowing snow. They are as crazy as we are – in a nice way, of course.

Thanks to Amy Schuring, Lucy Riemer, Dawn Tonneman, Marie Skyler, Mary Beth Thar, Karen Mann, and Ken Riemer for setting up, tending lines, taking pictures and braving the cold, snow and wet hands (and feet).

Bringing in the New Year 2018 — Mud (Michigan Underwater Divers) Club Style: Standing – Orange Suit: Ken Reimer (Berrien Springs, MI), Right to Left from Orange tender: Kevin Ailes (Bangor, MI), Jim Scholz (Dowagiac), Don McAlhany (St. Joseph, MI), Sir Larry Steelman (Niles, MI), Brian Daisy (Hartford, MI), Dave Tonneman (Columbus, Ohio). Diver in the water with mask: Skyler Daisy (Seattle, Washington)

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Prep Time for the New Years Eve Night Dive

Posted on December 31, 2017 by dwmack

As has been done for the past 40+ years, several Muddies spent the last day of the year getting ready to celebrate the coming in of the New Year under the icy covered waters somewhere in Michigan.

Round Lake (Sister Lakes – Dowagiac, MI) was our alternate dive site, since our planned location on Magician Lake had insufficient safe ice to support a group of divers and tenders with heavy scuba gear.

At Round Lake, we first cleared a path out to an area deep enough to dive. The chainsaw we were to use for cutting the ice became inoperative while making the initial cut, and we had to complete the job manually using an old fashion ice cutting saw.  The boundary area was then marked with reflective cones and tape to identify the area and as a warning to snow mobiles & ice walkers of the open water hazard.

This is the public parking are for Round Lake which is located in Dowagiac Michigan. It is one of several in the sister Lakes chain. As you can see there is a bit of snow on the ground.

The dive site has been prepared for the New Year’s Eve Dive

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